### Introduction
After a lot of research, everything I found on adding date range searching to a
CGridView advanced search form seemed to involve adding two new public variables
(e.g. $date_from, $date_to), 'safe' rules for the new variables, and a rather
chunky if/elseif/else check in the search() method. This probably isn't a hassle
for most, but because many of the tables in my database contain two or three and
sometimes four date columns (e.g. date_created, date_modified, date_deleted
etc.), it meant I was having to add up to eight public variables, the
corresponding safe rules, and modifying the search() criteria for each date
attribute. So, I set about creating a better way and I thought I'd share my work
with the community.
### Overview
To be able to add date range searching functionality to your advanced search
forms (not grid view filters sorry, I'm still working on that!) without having
to add public attributes, 'safe' rules, and chunky search conditions for each
date attribute.
1. Create an Active Record Behavior that builds the criteria for the search()
method and attach it to your model
2. Modify the search() method of the model to merge the behavior's criteria in
with the rest of the searchable attributes
3. Modify the _search form view to add the date range inputs
### Assumptions
1. You already have a functioning advanced search form for your grid view that
contains one or more date inputs.
2. Your database date is in the MySQL format 'yyyy-mm-dd'. If not, change the
$dateFromDefault and $dateToDefault values in the behavior.
### Behavior
Create a file called EDateRangeSearchBehavior.php. Copy the following code in to
the file and save it in to your components/behaviors folder.
~~~
[php]
/**
* This model behavior builds a date range search condition.
*/
class EDateRangeSearchBehavior extends CActiveRecordBehavior
{
/**
* @param the default 'from' date when nothing is entered.
*/
public $dateFromDefault = '1900-01-01';
/**
* @param the default 'to' date when nothing is entered.
*/
public $dateToDefault = '2099-12-31';
/*
* Date range search criteria
* public $attribute name of the date attribute
* public $value value of the date attribute
* @return instance of CDbCriteria for the model's search() method
*/
public function dateRangeSearchCriteria($attribute, $value)
{
// Create a new db criteria instance
$criteria = new CDbCriteria;
// Check if attribute value is an array
if (is_array($value))
{
// Check if either key in the array has a value
if (!empty($value[0]) || !empty($value[1]))
{
// Set the date 'from' variable to the first value in the array
$dateFrom = $value[0];
if (empty($dateFrom))
{
// Set the 'from' date to the default
$dateFrom = $this->dateFromDefault;
}
// Set the date 'to' variable to the second value in the array
$dateTo = $value[1];
if (empty($dateTo))
{
// Set the 'to' date to the default
$dateTo = $this->dateToDefault;
}
// Check if the 'from' date is greater than the 'to' date
if ($dateFrom > $dateTo)
{
// Swap the dates around
list($dateFrom, $dateTo) = array($dateTo, $dateFrom);
}
// Add a BETWEEN condition to the search criteria
$criteria->addBetweenCondition($attribute, $dateFrom, $dateTo);
}
else
{
// The value array is empty so set it to an empty string
$value = '';
// Add a compare condition to the search criteria
$criteria->compare($attribute, $value, true);
}
}
else
{
// Add a standard compare condition to the search criteria
$criteria->compare($attribute, $value, true);
}
// Return the search criteria to merge with the model's search() method
return $criteria;
}
}
~~~
### Model
Then, attach the behavior by adding it to the behaviors() array in your model
~~~
[php]
/**
* Model behaviors
*/
public function behaviors()
{
return array(
'dateRangeSearch'=>array(
'class'=>'application.components.behaviors.EDateRangeSearchBehavior',
),
);
}
~~~
Next, modify the search() method in the same model and replace the
$criteria->compare() line for every date attribute you want to range search.
~~~
[php]
public function search()
{
$criteria = new CDbCriteria;
$criteria->compare('id', $this->id);
...
// Replace the standard date compare line...
$criteria->compare('date_created', $this->date_created, true);
// with the new mergeWith line...
$criteria->mergeWith($this->dateRangeSearchCriteria('date_created',
$this->date_created));
...
return new CActiveDataProvider($this, array(
'criteria'=>$criteria,
));
}
~~~
### View
And finally in your view, add the following code to your _search form to render
your 'date from' and 'date to' inputs.
~~~
[php]
<?php
// Date range search inputs
$attribute = 'date_created';
for ($i = 0; $i <= 1; $i++)
{
echo ($i == 0 ? Yii::t('main', 'From:') : Yii::t('main', 'To:'));
$this->widget('zii.widgets.jui.CJuiDatePicker', array(
'id'=>CHtml::activeId($model, $attribute.'_'.$i),
'model'=>$model,
'attribute'=>$attribute."[$i]",
));
}
?>
~~~
**PLEASE
**PLEASE NOTE:** If you currently have a column in your grid view that is
displaying the same date attribute you are range-searching on, make sure you set
the 'filter' setting to false. E.g.(thank you to yiimike for
this tip!) I.e.
~~~
[php]
<?php
$this->widget('zii.widgets.grid.CGridView', array(
'id'=>'my-grid',
'dataProvider'=>$dataProvider,
'columns'=>array(
'id',
//... ...
array(
'name'=>'date_created',
'value'=>"Yii::app()->dateFormatter->formatDateTime(\$data->date_created,
'medium', 'short')",
'filter'=>false, // Set the filter to false when date range searching
),
//... ...
),
));
?>
~~~
### Summary
- The View code will generate two search inputs, each having its own
CJuiDatePicker widget. The two inputs will submit the data under the attribute
name as an array, where the EDateRangeSearchBehavior attached to the model will
create a BETWEEN condition.
- Obviously, if the two date inputs are filled in, the search will find models
between the two entered dates.
- If only the first date input is filled in, the search will find models between
the entered date and the '$dateToDefault' date set in the behavior.
- If only the second date input is filled in, the search will find models
between the '$dateFromDefault' date set in the behavior, and the entered date.
- If, for example, you have an admin search form and a user search form that use
the same model, and you only require date range functionality for the admin
search form, you are still able to use a single date input. The behavior checks
if the attribute submitted is an array (i.e. a date range), and if not it will
revert to a standard 'compare' criteria.
### Conclusion
I hope this works well for you. In my case, I actually use this for
datetime/timestamp fields, and with some simple modifications (i.e. add the time
to the $dateFromDefault and $dateToDefault values in the behavior, and change
the view widget to a DateTimePicker) you can adapt it to your needs too. Also,
if you have any enhancements, I'd love to hear.